Best Operating Grants for Nonprofits in Kentucky

The Judith Heavenrich Memorial Scholarship, established in memory of Judith Heavenrich, aims to support single, low-income mothers in Saginaw County as they pursue higher education or vocational training. Judith, a lifelong advocate for education and environmental issues, faced numerous challenges in her life but remained dedicated to her community. This scholarship reflects her spirit and commitment to empowering women to achieve their educational goals, with awards typically ranging from $500 to $4,000.

The Leonard Litz LGBTQ+ Foundation, via its TransPLUS Resource Center, supports transgender, gender-nonconforming, non-binary, and intersex individuals. By providing grants and resources, the Foundation aims to address urgent needs in healthcare, housing, and legal services while fostering community connections. They build peer-support networks, publish updates, and support initiatives to empower TGNCNBI individuals and their allies, ensuring that marginalized voices are heard and uplifted.

The C.V. Glassco Memorial Scholarship Fund honors Mr. Clarence Verbal Glassco, a dedicated community volunteer and veteran. This scholarship supports full-time students pursuing higher education or approved workforce training in Alabama. Funded by the Community Foundation of Northeast Alabama, it covers tuition, housing, and books based on available assets. Applicants are encouraged to seek additional financial resources. This initiative preserves Mr. Glassco's legacy of service and commitment to education.

The Native Forward Direct Scholarship supports American Indian and Alaska Native students by providing mid-year funding opportunities to alleviate educational costs. With over 50 years of experience, Native Forward has empowered more than 22,000 students from diverse backgrounds. This scholarship recognizes the limited access these students face in higher education and aims to enhance their academic journeys while fostering community engagement and mentorship through a strong alumni network.

The Native Forward CPA Examination Funding provides crucial financial assistance to American Indians and Alaska Natives for covering the costs associated with the CPA examination. This initiative empowers students and professionals to pursue CPA licensure by assisting with application, registration, and exam fees. Eligible applicants can receive support for one section of the exam at a time, ensuring access to essential resources for advancing their careers and contributing positively to their communities.

The Native Forward Community Impact Research Funding supports doctoral candidates conducting research that addresses issues affecting Indian Country. This initiative provides essential financial assistance for data collection, analysis, and research travel, ensuring that Native perspectives are included in academic discourse. By fostering the next generation of Native leaders, this funding aims to empower scholars and enhance community impact through education and advocacy, ultimately preserving and enriching Native cultures.

The BIE Professional Examination Funding, provided by Native Forward Scholars Fund in partnership with BIE, offers financial assistance to support Native students in taking professional examinations, including Bar Examination funding. This award covers registration fees, preparatory course costs, and other exam-related expenses. Applicants must have graduated within one year and can only receive assistance for one exam. This initiative aims to empower Native scholars and enhance their professional visibility and opportunities.

Erin Marie Masling Memorial Scholarship

This scholarship encourages students who have the potential and desire to pursue a post-secondary education despite the effects of an ongoing medical condition or illness.

Number and Size of Awards

Number of recipients and award amounts vary; minimum award $500. Award paid in one lump sum in the Fall and divided equally between the Fall and Spring semesters.

Allowed Use of Award

Awards may be used for tuition, fees, books, and other expenses associated with higher education.

Hutsell, Alan Scholarship Fund

For a high school senior from Central Noble, East Noble, Wawasee, West Noble or homeschool (homeschooled student must live in Noble County) who will be pursuing advanced education in emergency services involving fire, police, criminal justice and/or EMS.

Awards Per Year:

• 1 scholarship

Applicant High School:

• Central Noble, East Noble, Homeschooled, Wawasee, West Noble

Colleges:

• Any accredited college or university

Areas of Study:

• Criminal Justice, Emergency Medical Services, Emergency Services, Emergency services involving fire, police, criminal justice and/or EMS.

The Amazing Grace Scholarship, established by the Children's Brain Tumor Foundation, honors Grace Fulcher, a brain tumor survivor. This scholarship supports students diagnosed with brain or spinal cord tumors before age 21, who reside in the U.S. and are pursuing higher education. With a $1000 award, the scholarship aims to empower survivors to achieve their educational goals, inspired by Grace's resilience and academic success despite her challenges.

The Jenna’s Rainbow Moving Forward Grant, offered by the Children’s Brain Tumor Foundation, provides crucial financial assistance to adult survivors of brain or spinal cord tumors. Aimed at fostering independence, this grant supports costs associated with job transitions, new living situations, and resources to enhance self-sufficiency. Eligible applicants must be at least 18 years old, diagnosed before 21, and not have received recent funding from CBTF or JRF. This initiative empowers survivors to overcome challenges and move forward in their lives.

The John H. and Ruby M. Laurie Charitable Scholarship offers a $1,000 scholarship to graduating seniors from Camdenton High School with a minimum GPA of 3.5. This renewable scholarship supports students enrolled in accredited colleges or vocational schools, encouraging academic achievement. Preference is given to those pursuing a Business degree. This initiative aims to enhance community welfare through educational support and resource development, fostering future leaders in the region.

The Child Neurology Foundation offers a Summer Scholarship for first, second, or third-year medical students interested in neurodevelopmental disabilities or child neurology. This scholarship provides $3,500 for clinical research focused on neurodevelopmental disabilities in children or young adults, conducted under the supervision of a qualified subspecialist. Applications are evaluated based on their importance, originality, and contribution to the medical student's development.

Nurses Educational Funds

Nurses Educational Funds, Inc. depends solely on donations to advance our only mission, to promote nursing leadership through annual scholarship support for professional nurses seeking masters and doctoral degrees in nursing education, practice, research, and administration.

NEF’s only purpose is to provide nursing scholarship assistance to make graduate level nursing education possible. NEF is one of the largest, national, private, professionally endorsed source of funds for advanced nursing study with over one hundred years of service to and for professional nursing. NEF is a non-profit organization with 501(c) status.

Martha Rodriguez Scholarship Fund

Martha Rodriguez Memorial Scholarship was initiated in 2025 by Lisa Ackerman, close friend and then Director of the Columbus Citizens Foundation. Raised in Gary, Indiana and a true New Yorker, Martha died as the result of traumatic head injuries from a tragic accident just outside her NYC apartment. Martha Rodriguez gave in life, working as a nurse helping patients navigate the trauma of breast cancer at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center. In her death, she was lauded by the President of LiveOnNY, an organization that coordinates and oversees organ donations, for her last selfless act of giving. Martha donated organs that gave life and hope and helped three people lead better lives. Her zest for life was contagious, and her dedication, compassion, and expertise left an indelible mark on the lives of countless MSKCC patients and caregivers. She was a friend and mentor to many. She loved being a nurse at MSKCC and worked for more than 28 years as a nurse practitioner and for the last 15 years of her life dealing with breast cancer patients. This scholarship is awarded to nurses studying in master's or doctoral programs who are dedicated to oncology care, or women’s health, or are Latinx nurses.

This Community Foundation was created by and for the people of Washington County MD, and exists to improve the quality of life for all of our citizens, now and for generations to come, by building community endowments, addressing needs through grant making and providing leadership on key community issues.

Washington County 4-H Livestock/Market Sale Scholarship

Established to support post-secondary scholarships to participants in Washington County 4-H Livestock and Market Sale programs.

Shawnee Fine Arts Club Scholarship

Provides a scholarship to graduating seniors of Shawnee High School, Liberty Academy, or home-schooled residents of Shawnee, Oklahoma with a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.7. Student must be accepted into the university of their choice, majoring in music, visual arts, dance, or drama.

The NIDCD Research Career Enhancement Award for Established Investigators (K18) program supports established researchers in enhancing their skills and redirecting their research towards critical areas such as hearing, balance, smell, taste, voice, speech, and language sciences. This program is crucial for fostering innovation and advancing the understanding of these fields. Important deadlines for applications include June 10, 2024, and October 8, 2024, among others.

The NIDCD Research Career Enhancement Award for Established Investigators (K18) supports seasoned researchers in enhancing or redirecting their research through new skills acquisition. This funding opportunity addresses critical questions in hearing, balance, smell, taste, voice, speech, and language sciences. Key deadlines for applications span from June 2024 to February 2027, ensuring ample opportunity for researchers to apply and contribute to these vital fields.

The NIDCD Research Career Enhancement Award (K18) supports established investigators in enhancing or redirecting their research efforts. This program is crucial for acquiring new skills relevant to hearing, balance, smell, taste, voice, speech, and language sciences. Key deadlines for applications span from June 2024 to February 2027, including specific dates for AIDS-related grants, ensuring timely funding opportunities for innovative research.

The Brady Education Foundation offers grants aimed at enhancing educational outcomes for children, particularly in low-income areas. Through collaborations among researchers and educators, the foundation funds Research Projects and Program Evaluations that adhere to strength-based approaches. Eligible organizations include non-profits and academic institutions, with a focus on projects that evaluate effective educational strategies. The foundation emphasizes the importance of measurable outcomes and the potential to inform future educational practices and policies.

The Behavioral Health Integration Initiative aims to enhance the health of American Indian and Alaska Native individuals by expanding access to integrated behavioral health care. It supports Tribal and Urban Indian Organization health systems in providing culturally responsive and trauma-informed services. The initiative focuses on improving care coordination, promoting early identification of mental health issues, and integrating various health services to improve overall health outcomes and quality of life for AI/AN communities.

The Sundance Collab's Cultural Impact Residency, honoring Michael Latt, is a six-month online program supporting early-career, underrepresented storytellers focused on social impact. Running from March to August 2026, it offers mentorship, feedback sessions, and resources to eight selected fellows in screenwriting, directing, and documentary filmmaking. This opportunity is designed for works-in-progress, fostering a supportive creative community to inspire and develop impactful narratives.

The Mercer Vu Farms/Ron and Judy Hissong Scholarship for Agriculture Fund honors Ron Hissong, a dedicated dairy farmer. Established by his family, this scholarship supports students from the Tuscarora School District pursuing education in agriculture or related fields, ensuring they can continue Ron's legacy of community contribution. Applicants must demonstrate financial need and a commitment to agriculture, making this opportunity vital for aspiring agricultural professionals.

Mary Joan Keeney Scholarship

The Mary Joan Keeney Scholarship was established in 2017 to honor the memory of Joan Keeney and her dedication to continuing education. In 1992, at the age of fifty-nine, she attended Denver Seminary in Denver, Colorado and completed a life-long dream of earning a Master’s in Counseling. Upon graduation, she volunteered as a grief and bereavement counselor at The First Presbyterian Church in Boulder, Colorado. Her life passion was helping others heal and return to love.

The purpose of this scholarship is to provide non-traditional, female students interested in nursing and mental health careers access to funds to help further their education and/or certification. In 2026, two one-time scholarship awards of $5,000 each will be offered.

The John D. Dixon and Louise A. Dixon Memorial Scholarship Fund honors the legacy of its namesakes by supporting graduating seniors from Cedar Cliff and Northern York High Schools. This scholarship aims to assist students with a minimum GPA of 2.5 who demonstrate financial need and a commitment to volunteerism or extracurricular activities. It is a one-time award intended to help students pursue higher education at colleges or technical schools.

Transportation Research and Policy

Arnold Ventures (AV) is a philanthropy dedicated to improving the lives of all Americans through evidence-based solutions that maximize opportunity and minimize injustice.

The Infrastructure team has been investing in efforts to build better, faster, and lower-cost infrastructure with a focus on housing, energy, and transportation. For transportation, we are investing in policymaking and research that tackles the inefficiencies that make U.S. transportation infrastructure so difficult and expensive to build. 

Purpose

Transportation policy represents an avenue for improving the systems moving people, goods, and services. The Infrastructure team is seeking proposals evaluating the effectiveness and/or benefits of existing transportation or transportation-adjacent policies on outcomes for communities in the United States.

Eligible Projects and Topic Areas of Interest

This Request for Proposals (RFP) aims to bolster the knowledge base of potentially effective policies, programs, and interventions by funding efforts that align with key AV Infrastructure policy areas.

AV is primarily focused on traditional surface transportation — road and public transit — but is open to proposals in aviation, maritime, passenger and freight rail, trucking, and more.

We seek proposals for: 1) research, expanded data sets, or analysis; 2) administrative or legislative policy reforms at the federal, state, or local level; or 3) models of effective implementation including proposals for implementing agencies to partner with researchers or program evaluators to conduct baseline and post-intervention research on implementation effectiveness that will advance the knowledge base and provide illustrative examples within, but not limited to, the following topic areas:

• Transportation Capital Investment Reform. Evaluating how capital funding is prioritized and selected at the federal, state, or regional level, including discretionary grant programs and formula-based funding. What reforms could ensure projects deliver higher public returns?

• Cost Estimation, Oversight, and Accountability. Why do major transportation projects frequently exceed budgets and timelines, and how can we identify strategies to improve transparency, cost realism, and performance oversight?

• Access in Mobility Outcomes. Measuring how current transportation investments affect access to jobs, services, and economic opportunities for workers and families, and what policy changes could improve access.

• Performance-Based Project Selection. How can public agencies shift from current, politically driven allocations to datadriven, performance-based decision-making on capital project selections?

• Institutional Barriers to Reform. What organizational, legal, or procedural hurdles prevent DOTs and MPOs from adopting better practices (e.g., outcome-based planning, integrated land use/transportation policy)?

• Permitting and Permit Reform. How do current local, state, and federal permitting practices affect project cost, quality, timeline, and other concerns?

• Intergovernmental Dynamics. How do federal, state, and local funding structures and requirements enable or constrain effective transportation investment? What governance structures would improve outcomes when it comes to transportation planning and project delivery?

• Data Sets and Root Causes of High Delivery Costs. Expanded data sets on unit costs and/or research illuminating the root causes of why transportation and transit projects cost so much and take so long to deliver. What policy and practice changes could manage project delivery risks and improve the likelihood that projects will be delivered on s chedule and on budget?

• Domestic Content. How do Buy America and domestic content requirements affect the cost, speed, innovation, and effectiveness of transportation infrastructure projects?

• Procurement Process. How do current procurement practices affect project cost, quality, innovation, and accountability — and what policy and regulatory reforms could improve outcomes?

• Other. AV also welcomes innovative proposals on other transportation issues that align with our mission.

These research, policy development, and implementation proposals can be relevant to federal surface transportation reauthorization legislation or federal administrative changes; state reforms to Departments of Transportation; and/or local-level reforms relevant either to regional transportation agencies, transit agencies, or municipal governments.

The Big 33 Academic Scholarship Fund, managed by The Foundation for Enhancing Communities, offers financial assistance to Pennsylvania high school seniors planning to pursue higher education. Eligible students must maintain a minimum GPA of 2.0 and demonstrate academic achievement, community service, and leadership. Since its inception in 1985, the fund has awarded over $3.9 million in scholarships, helping countless students achieve their academic goals and overcome obstacles.